Electric-switch lock



C. D. PLATT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH LOCK-z APPLI CA ION HLED 0CT.L19l9 INVENTOR ITNESS:

CLARENCE D. PLATT, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

' ELECTRIC-SWITCH LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patontod Juno 29, 1920.

Application filed October 1, 1919. Serial No. 327.616.

To all whom it may ('onoorn Be it known that I, CLARENCE l). lia 'r'r, a citizen of tho United Statcs ot America,

rosiding at Bridgeport, (onnocticnt have inventor] a new and useful Eloctric-Switoh Look, of which the following is a spocification. 1

My invention relates particularly to inclosod switches. It lias'hoon customary to provide looks and seals for provonting tampering with the box and its contents. It has also hoon customaryto provide moans for looking the handle of the switch or somo interior part so as to prevent operation of the switch.

My main object is to provido a simplo and inoxponsivo construction by which it is possihlo to lock or faston tho box when dosirod and in which it is also possihlo to provont operation of tho switolvwhon dosirod by tho use of tho sumo fastening or looking moans. For this purposo l providc an auxiliary dovico in naturc of a stopwhioh in its pro forrod fUI'IH iB-l pivotod to tho oxtorior of tho box and 'adaptod to ho iutorposod hotwoon the covor of tho hox and tho handlo of tho swit ohi 'hon the stop is so inlorposod tho hoh covor may ho fastoncd or lockod to tho iody of tho box so as to provout opouingiof tho box and also provont oporation of tho switch. 'ith tho stop on tho oxtorior of tho ho.\'. it acts as an indicator sothat tho most casual inspoction will show whcthor or not tho switch mochauism is lookod. 'lhoro is. thoroforo, no daugo." of somoono hroaking or strainin; tho mochanism in trying: to opcrato tho switch handlo whon it is lookod as might ho tho caso if tho stop woro on the intorior or out of sight.

Figure l is a plan viou of an inolosod switch omhodyiug tho im u-ovomouts of my invontion. part of tho hox hoin g hrokon away and shown inscctiou to show tho stop n ochanism and adjacont constriu-tion.

Fig. 2 is a sido viow showing; tho moohaoism in the open circuit position with tho stop in action and tho covor fastonod by :1 padlock. I

Fig. 3 is a side View showing tho switch in tho closod circuit position, tho stop being disongagell.

Fig. 4 is a. pcrspootivo viow of one form of stop.

The partioular form of intorior switch mochanism is immaterial to my invention In the form shown, thoro is a stationary contact 5 and a blade (5 hinged to the post 7. The conducting parts and the usual insulatiup base are mountod within a box having a body 8 and a oovcr S) hinged thoroto in some suitable manner as for instance at tho point 10,

The opt-rating handlo or lovor 11 is connootod to the shaft 12 insido the box. The shaft is provided with a suitable arm or orank 13 which may he connoctod to tho switch hlado G in any snitahlo niannor as for instance lay means of a link ll. A stop 15 is provided to limit the movement of the switch handlc when the cirouit is opened.

Tho cover may ho fastonod or sealed to tho hody of the box when ('losud in any suitahlo mannor as for instance by means of a padlock 16 whoso hasp is adapted to be passod through the openings 17 and 17' in tho box and in theoovcr respectively.

In the particular form shown the stop 18 is pivotod at 19 to the outside of the box and provided with a. log or projecting part L" which extends ut from tho side of the hox far onough to intoroopt the haodlo when the parts are in the position of l. igs. l and Q. lroforahly a part of the stop such as 18 is adaptod to lio hotwoon tho. flange 9' of the covor and tho uppor odgo of tho hody of tho hox whon tho parts are. in the position of igs. 1 and 2 so that tho covor performs the function not only of holding the stop down against tho haudlo, hut also of preventing tho. upper cud of tho stop from hoiag pried out or pullod away from tho sido of the box. A part of tho rovcr flange may ho pressed out ward or omhossod as at 9" to receive the ooruor 18 of tho. stop.

'hon tho pa rts aro in tho position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle of the switch is ohviously lockod. whoroas when the parts arc in tho position of Fig. 3, the stop. is obviously disongagcd and the handle freeto ho niovod. To close the switch when the parts a re in tho position of Fig. 2, it is necessary to romove the padlock 16 (or disengage such other sealing or fastening means as may he omployorl), open tho cover 9 and rotract tho stop into the position of Fig. 3. 'lho switch handle may then he operated to closo tho switch. T v

To look the switch handle when the parts aro in the position of Fig.3, it is simply necessary to throw the switch handle over open the cover 9, swing the stationary stop or abutment 15, up the stop 18 to the position of Fig. 2 and a ain close the cover which holds the stop' 18 in osition with the switch handle and mechanism locked open.

p 1. In combination switch mechanism in cluding an operatinghandle, a box body and cover inclosmg all of said mechanism except the handle, means for locking the cover to box body and means independent of the locking means external to the box and adapted to be manually set when the cover is open and held -in place b the cover when the cover is closed for holding the operating handle.

2. In combination, a box body and a cover for said body, a switch in the box having an external operating handle and a handleloeking stop pivoted to the body, said cover overstanding a part of said stop to prevent unlockirig movement of said stop when the cover is closed with the stop in looking position;

3. In combination, a box body and cover, switch mechanism mounted within said box, an external operating handle therefor, a lockin stop pivotally mounted on the outside 0 said box and adapted to be manually interposed between the handle and the cover of the box when the switch is in its open against circuit position, and means for holdin the movable end of said stopagainst sai box when said stop is in its looking position.

4. In combination, a box body and cover,

a switch mounted in the box and having an external handle a manually movable-stop pivoted to the body 'of the box externally and independentl of the cover and adapted to be inter osed etween the cover: and the handle an means for securing the cover closed and in engagement with the movable stop.

5. In combination, a box body, a flanged cover therefor-,a switch in the box having an external handle, a stop adapted to be interposed between a flange of the cover and said handle and means for fastening said cover.

6. In combination, a box body, a flanged cover therefor, a switch in the box having an external handle, a stop ada ted to be interposed between a flan e of t e cover and.

said handle, said cover ange overlapping a part of said stop.

7. In combination a box body and a hinged cover carried thereby, a switch in the box having an external operatinghandle, and a handle locking stop pivote to the body, said cover having a portion overstanding a part of the stop to hold it when in locking position.

8. In combination, a box body and a hinged cover carried thereby, a swi ch in the box having an external operating handle, and a movable locking stoip carried by the body, said cover having a ange overstand ing a part of the stop to hold it when in locked position.

. CLARENCE n. rLATT. 

